Glue-joining and press apparatus and method of joining the ends of abrasive strips



Nov. 24, 1953 J, H w s 2,660.220 GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS AND METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS OF ABRASIVE STRIPS Filed'May 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 24; 1953 J. R. HAWKINS 2,660,220

GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS AND Msmon 0F JOINING THE anus OF ABRASIVE STRIPS 7 Sheets-shat 2 Filed May 25, 1951 ma/K Arron/34 4, 1953 J. R. HAWKINS A 2,660,220

GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS AND METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS 0F ABRASIVE; sT131Ps Filed May 25, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I o l L 43 I I ,7? 25' "23 [/5 ig/9&9 I [1. -1 C I 7.9 A @j s We 85 86 g1 V as BYa/L/ (Y/3 .ATTORNEY.

Nov. 24, 1953 J. R. HAWKINS 2,660,220

GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS AND METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS OF ABRASIVE STRIPS Filed May 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNE Y.

Nov. 24, 1953 J. R. HAWKINS GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS AND METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS OF ABRASIVE STRIPS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25, 1951 Illi N V- 24, 953 J. R. HAWKINS GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS AND METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS 0F ABRASIVE STRIPS Filed May 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 N 24, 1953 J. R. HAWKINS 2,660,220

GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS AND METHOD 0F JOINING THE ENDS 0F ABRASIVE STRIPS Filed May 25, 195i 7 Sheets-Sheet 7' BY @M/ a 64;

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1953 GLUE-JOINING AND PRESS APPARATUS,

AND: METHOD OF JOINING THE, ENDS OF ABRASIVE' STRIPS James R. Hawkins, Deerfield', Ohio, assignor to- Armour and. Company,. Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May25', 1951, Serial No; 2285308 v 15-: Claims. 1 i This invention relates to glue-joining and press apparatus and is particularly; useful in the joiningoi ends ofa sandpaper strip for the forming of a continuous belt. In addition to the belt splicing use, the machine maybe employed for other purposes.

The joining of the ends of anabrasive covered paper" strip has presented a serious problem in view of the fact that the overlapping ends whichare joined by glue must have a thickness which is not substantially greater than the thickness of the remainder of the abrasive-backed strip. If, at the spliced ends, the joint is larger, the abrasive belt will cause a repeated lifting of the work as the enlarged joint passes the work with a tendencyof the operator to bring the work back: with increased pressure againstthe following portion of the belt. This results in uncertain and unsatisfactory work production.

A further problem is presented in the means for holding a'heavy backing; strip covered with adhesive and'abrasivein an accurate position while the glue is being applied and holding both ends of the strip in overlapping accurate relationwhilethe press operates. I

Ifhe application of glue to the skived edge of the abrasive strip presents a problem because of; the need for supplying even amounts of glue across the strip without interfering with the press and holder devices while at the same time avoiding the application of glue to the press where such application is not needed;

An object of the invention is to provide a machine which accomplishes the above mentioned purposes while providing several additional functions. A further object is to provide a compact machine provided with means ,for aligning the end of-a strip which is to be. glued and for holdthe same'during the gluing operation, while at the same" time providing also traveling glue means for applying to the exposed edge-a uniform quantity of glue. A still further" object isto provide a machine having means foraccurately' holding the overlapping edges of a strip inaccurate relation while pressing theoverlapping edges to produce a joint of substantially the same thickness as the remainderof the completed belt. A further object is to provide a carriage structure in such a machine which carriesa glue-applying wheel and pot for glue across the-edgeof the paper'and while providing supporting means which bring the wheel and pot below the press, the supporting structure, however, guiding the carriage beyond an end of the I press. A still further object is to provide in such a machine retractable fingers for aligning the end portions of the strip to be glued and also suction means whereby the mating edges of the strip may be heldin: accurate relation while the press is operating. A still further object is to provide lift means associated with the carriage forraising the glue pot and wheel applying roller above the press toward one end of the travel of the carriagewhile providing means for releasably latching the pot and wheel support in raised position. A still further object is to provide an improved glue-applying and press machine of' compact arrangement which effectively unites and compresses the overlappingedges of a strip for uniting the same in a thickness not greater than the thickness of the remainder of the completed belt. other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

Theinvention is shown in an illustrativeembodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1' is a side View in' elevation of apparatus embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a similar side Fig. 4; a broken enlarged side view of the glue pot and glue-applying wheel and the supporting plates therefor; Fig. 5, an enlarged end view of the glue pot and applying wheel and the supporti'ng-mechanism therefor; Fig. 6', an enlarged transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6-6 of Fig. 5'; Fig. 7, a top plan" view of the glue pot structure shown in- Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a plan view of the supporting carriage for the glue pot'structure; Fig. 9, a broken plan view of the top of the bed showing the spliced end's of the belt and the holding means employed for securing the ends, the edges of the strips beingdn partially overlapping relation; Fig: 10; a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the overlapped edges after the compression step; Fig. 11; an enlarged broken and part sectional view showing the press head'bearing against the' head of'the base and showing also the heating means therefor; Fig. 12, an enlarged sectional de-" tail view showing the aligning retractable fingers to the 'skivededge thereof;

In the illustration given, A: designates a base provided with a1v raised portion A on which is 3 mounted a head or anvil A as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. About the structure A and A extends a casing providing a bed [0.

Above the base A and bed In is a bridge structure B consisting of side standards H and an overhanging bridge beam I2. Movably mounted within the bridge frame is a press C having a presser head l3 mounted on pistons l4 which extend within the cylinders U5.

The bed It, in the illustration given, is slotted to receive retractable aligning fingers it. As shown more clearly in Fig. 12, the fingers are mounted on a rock shaft H, the shaft being rotated by compressed air means or other fluid pressure means. In the retracted position shown in dotted lines, the fingers extend below the top of the bed l and permit a second end of the strip to be placed upon the bed.

The skived end of the abrasive strip I8 is first placed upon the bed 10 and moved forwardly until it engages the edges of the aligning fingers I6, as shown more clearly in' Fig. 12. I then provide clamping arms is which extend inwardly toone side of the press for gripping the abrasive strip l8 and anchoring it in the aligned position against the fingers l 5. The strip is now in proper condition for the application of glue and it will be noted that the skived portion lBa of the strip I8 is exposed for engagement with a glue wheel or other glue-applying means.

In the illustration given, I provide a carriage 20 upon which is mounted a glue pot 2| equipped with a glue-applying roller 22. The carriage is moved across the bed and back to its initial position by means of a continuous chain 23 supported by sprockets 24, one of which is driven by a motor 25, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

The carriage for the glue pot structure is mounted upon the spaced tracks 26 and 21', as shown more clearly in Figs. and 8. The carriage consists of an upper plate 28 which is suspended upon the track 26 and a lower plate 29 which is supported by plate 28 but is vertically movable with relation thereto. The two plates are slidably connected, plate 29 being equipped with the tongue members 2912 and plate 28 being equipped with the tongue members 28a interlocking with members 2911, as indicated best in Fig. 8. Platezs is provided with a laterally-extending frame member 36 supporting a verticallyextending wheel 3! engaging the top of track 26 and supporting, also, the side rollers 32 which engage the sides of track 26. The plate 28 is also provided at its base with a laterally-extending bracket 38 on which is mounted a verticallyextending roller 3| engaging the bottom of track 21 and horizontally-extending rollers 40 which engage the sides of track 27, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. I

' The vertically-movable plate 29 is provided with a laterally-extending lift member or roller 41 which is adapted to engage the-inclined surface of a cam 42 fixed to a frame plate 43 at one end of the frame B, as shown best in Figs.-

7 mounted on plate 23, and the latch is made releasable by a spring-pressed plunger 46 having its inner end portion 41 engageable with a cam surface 48 with which the fixed cam member 42 is provided. In operation, when the plate 29 is raised, the latch 44 engages the abutment 45 and retains the raised plate 29 in the elevated position. When, however, the carriage is moved to bring it toward the press, the plunger head 41 engages the cam surface 48 and releases the abutment 45 from the latch 44.

The gluepot structure 2| is secured to the lower end of plate 29, as shown best in Figs. 5 and '7. Mounted within the structure 2| is a glue-containing vessel or pot 49 in which a pool of glue 5!! is supported. A roller 5| is mounted for travel within the glue bath and the surface of the roller 5! engages an intermediate roller 52. The intermediate roller 52 bears against the glue-applying roller 22. lhe rollers are mounted upon shafts which are driven through a series of gears 53 mounted on shaft 54. The shaft 54 is equipped with a pulley-55 and a belt 56 connects pulley 55 to a pulley 51. The pulley 51! is mounted upon a shaft 58 which, through reduction gearing, is

driven by the motor 59, all as shown best in Fig. 4.

An adjustment stop screw 6!? is mounted within a threaded plate 6| and extends thereabove, the plate iii being carried by the lower plate 29. Plate 28 carries an abutment 62 engageable with the stop screw 36.

Since the traveling carriage carries its own motor, it is preferred to provide an electric cable 83 downwardly by the rollers 64, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1.

After'the glue has been applied to the skived edge of the strip, the opposite end of the strip is placed upon the bed 16 and brought into partial overlapping relation therewith, as shown more clearly in Fig. 14. The latter end 65 is provided with abrasive 66. As the strip 65 is pressed forwardly over the glue layer 61, a small amount of glue'is accumulated against the forward edge of strip 65, the amount being shown in exaggerated form in Fig. 14, and when the edge fo the strip 65 engages the shoulder 58 on strip 18, a strong end union of th parts is brought about.

7 It is important that the strip 65, after being brought into overlapping relation with the skived portion i811 of strip portion [8, be held firmly in the overlapped condition. The stop fingers 16 in the meantime have been brought to retracted position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12. To hold the strip portion 65 firmly upon bed l0, the bed [ii is provided with a hollow apron or casing 69 which provides a vacuum or suction chamber it]. The bed It is provided with apertures H communicating with chamber 70. .At the areas where the stop fingers l6 operate, the casing 69 is reduced in size to form the reduced chamber portion 10a. A motor-driven vacuum pump 12 is connected by th pipes '33 and T4 to the vacuum chamber 10.

The base support or anvil A is preferably provided with an electric resistance element 15 for heating the same. Similarly, the reduced portion of the press head it is provided with a heater it for heating the head I3.

It is desired to secure the bridge frame carrying th supporting structure for the press to the base A at the time the press head 63 engages the base head or anvil A As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, there is provided a locking bolt 11 provided laterally with a cam slot, '58 engageable with the horizontally-extending cam member 19. The cam member is is actuated by a piston rod seatwest) It will siibstitiited 1 for the num bres'siiie lateral extensions 92wof 'rc'ickshaft-BQ ena caus v {hematite-hi4 a's' the arr1a5ge -2U-is mew-n ior'ward by-=}hei n 2;3 s "the plungerhead engages the mamas bf the eam member 42. P1ate2 9 thehfnbte's c ldwhwelrdly to bring the glue Wheel 2 2 aieihst the iiaia'er stripLpQItiQn ISand the eaner 'elbblies glue to the *skiVed ipe'rtion18a thie'f the 'earr iwg'e moves across the bed #0. eseany tfie ioll'er is i'eturhed'ovei' the same eeurseena es the eeii 'liage passes the end of the mess, the tubiitir'iht '41 of plate 29 engages the flied "4 2 an'd plate *29 is again raised with the glizeirib't 2| supp'ofted thereon and the latch-44 do e'ets'iflate 29 in its raised positiohto the DIAteZIJ.

Aftex-"the ap lication of glue, the operator on 'th'e'ith'e side (if the press moves the opposite '2} 'afs e i-ryihg eridpdrtion 65 to the position I *Fig. 14 afid' thn presses the portion 65 folwermy 'to bi-ihg the -ni1 thereof against the sh61'11c1er68 of the'str'ip pdftion I 8. In themeant me, the alighmentfihgers it are retracted to the fidsitid'n showh 'in Hotted lines in Fig. "12. Siictibhis 'ajpplied Within chamber 'lfl'ejnd the striio pertidn 65 is thus firmly hem in the desired ia'es'iti''n. The c iperat'or's then -operate three Switches Qt-the 'difier e ht en'ds 0f the m'achine t0 actuate the press. The Mess is loreferably operated in tw'b stages. There is first a low pr'e's s'iire hpeiltidh'altlitbfis fbllo wed bye. high 'p'rs- "suYle' 'opra-tid'n at 120 tans. In this 'ti'p'ei'hti'on, the dei ls'ity of the aper "at the point (if jfintibh is 'cle'aily iriereas'd s o ls td 'fbihl a J'Oiht 'Whicfh'is o'f-the salme thicknesses that 'o' f the rma-iiide'r 6f the completed belt, The hated "press ii-16hrbers "i 3 eihd N'aid 1'1! the ib hetratibfi 6f the g'lil and the drying thereof. U p'b'nthe 'reisi'ng g'fthe press, "theeo'mple'ted. beltma'y be slip'lied 61T the end of the machine Where "the 'lbc'kihg 'bel't 'l-'l is employed when the same has been 'rai's'edhy idmittihg pyessmie to'the ibwe'r en 6f 'the ir ylir'ider ITa. In this bp'eration, the later-1mg "boIt F9 is retfacte'd tdheebolt 11. H

I ela'iiml: H I

v t use, Ehie brdiiihi-h'g a "bridge thexe abbife, a press mounted in said bridge fiir-hidtiifihttm 'ward said bed, fingers associated with said bed and adapted to align the forward edge portions of a strip advanced over said bed, said fingers being retractable below said bed, holder means carried by the bridge frame and engageable with the said strip for applying glue, said carriage comprising a roller-equipped plate engageable with a track structure on said bridge frame, and a gluepot-supporting plate vertically movable with respect to said first-mentioned plate and engageable with means on said frame for raising said gluepot at one end of the travel of said carriage.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a base, a bridge over said base, a press mounted for vertical movement in said bridge and movable toward said base, said base being adapted to receive the end of a strip to which glue is to be applied, a carriage member mounted on sa d bridge and movable thereon laterally of said press, means for moving said carriage back and forth along said bridge, and a vertically-movable plate carried by said carriage and extending below said press, a gluepot secured to the lower end of said plate and extendable below said press, glue-applying means carried by said pot for applying glue to the exposed edge of said strip, and

means on said frame and movable plate for raising said gluepot above said bed when said pot is moved beyond the end of said press.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a base, a bridge over said base, a press mounted for vertical movement in said bridge and movable toward said base, said base being adapted to receive the end of a strip to which glue is to be applied, a carriage member mounted on' said bridge and movable thereon laterally of said press, means for moving said carriage back and forth along said bridge, and a vertically-movable plate carried by said carriage and extending below said press, a gluepot secured to the lower end of said plate and extendable below said press, glue-applying means carried by said pot for applying glue to the exposed edge of said strip, means on said frame and movable plate for raising said gluepot above said base when said pot is moved beyond the end of said press, and releasable latch means for holding the vertically movable carriage plate in raised position when said carriage is at one end of its travel.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a base, a bridge over said base, a press mounted for vertical movement in said bridge and movable toward said base, said base being adapted to receive the end of a strip to which glue is to be applied, a carriage member mounted on said bridge and movable thereon laterally of said press, means for moving said carriage back and forth along said bridge, and a vertically-movable plate carried by said carriage and extending below said press, a gluepot secured to the lower end of said plate and extendable below said press, glue-wheel means carried by said pot for applying glue to the exposed edge of said strip, means on said frame and movable plate for raising said gluepot above said base when said pot is moved beyond the end of said press, and motor-driven means carried by said carriage for rotating the glue-applying roller.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, a base adapted to receive the edge of a strip to which glue is to be applied, a bridge over said base, a press mounted in said bridge for movement toward said base, retractable fingers carried by said base against which the edge portions of said strip may be pressed, clamping means supported upon said bridge frame for engaging said strip, said clamping means extending laterally of said press and against said strip, said clamping means leaving the inner edge of the strip exposed, a carriage member supported laterally of the press, a gluepot secured to the carriage member and extending inwardly below said press and above said exposed portion of said strip, means for moving said carriage back and forth across said base, a glue wheel mounted in said luepot for receiving glue from said pot, a motor mounted upon said carriage and means driven by said motor for rotating said glue wheel.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, a base adapted to receive the edge of a strip to which glue is to be applied, a bridge over said base, a press mounted in said bridge for movement toward said base, retractable fingers carried by said base against which the edge portions of said strip may be pressed, clamping means supported upon said bridge frame for engaging said strip, said clamping means extending laterally of said press and against said strip, said clamping means leaving the inner edge of the strip exposed, a carriage member supported laterally of the press, a gluepot secured to the carriage member and extending inwardly below said press and above said exposed portion of said strip, means for moving said carriage back and forth across said base, a glue wheel mounted in said gluepot for receiving glue from said pot, a motor mounted upon said carriage, means driven by said motor for rotating said glue wheel, and means for lifting said gluepot above said base after the same has passed beyond the end of said press.

8. In a structure of the character set forth, a flat-surfaced base, a bridge upon said base, a press mounted in said bridge for movement toward the fiat surface of said base, retractable fingers in the flat surface of said base adapted when in raised position to engage the forward edge of a strip placed upon said surface to align the edge portions thereof, said fingers when in retracted position lying below the flat surface of said base, and suction means located in the flat surface of said base beyond said fingers for holding another strip portion which is fed forwardly, after the retraction of said fingers, into overlapping relation with said first-mentioned edge portion below said press.

9. In a structure of the character set forth, a flat-surfaced base, a bridge upon said base, a press mounted in said bridge for movement toward the fiat surface of said base, retractable fingers in said surface adapted when in raised position to engage the forward edge of a strip placed upon said surface to align the edge portions thereof, said fingers when in retracted position lying below the fiat surface of said base, and suction means located in the flat surface of said base beyond said fingers for holding another strip portion which is fed forwardly, after the retraction of said fingers, into overlapping relation with said first-mentioned edge portion below said press, said suction means comprising a casing providing a suction chamber below the flat surface of said base, and means for producing a vacuum within said chamber, said flat surface of the base being perforated above said suction chamber. 10. In belt-splicing apparatus, a base providiiig a fiat surface arranged to receive thereon an abrasive strip portion having its forward edge skivd to remove the abrasive, a press supported above said base for movement against said base, means for raising and lowering said press, a hollow apron supported at one side of said base and providinga vacuum chamber beneath a fiat upper surface aligned with said flat base surface, the flat surface of said apron being provided with small openings, means for placing said chamber under vacuum, said apron being adapted to receive the other end portion of said belt strip and to hold the same thereon by the suction of said suction chamber and with the forward edge of the strip in overlapping relation with the skived other end of the belt, means for applying glue to the surface of one of said overlapping portions while the press is raised, and means for moving said press downwardly toward said base to unite the overlapping end portions of said abrasive strip.

11. The method of joining the ends of a strip coated with abrasive on one side thereof, comprising skiving the abrasive material from one end portion of said strip to provide a relatively abrasive-free transversely-extending border area, moving the skived end of said strip across a surface with the abrasive-coated side away from said surface until said border area abuts retractable stop members, clamping the skived end of said strip to said surface with the abrasive-free border area exposed, applying adhesive to said border area, also retracting said stop members, then moving the other end of said strip across said surface with the abrasive-coated side away from said surface into edge overlapping relation with said border area and with said other end outermost, clamping said other end to said surface with the overlapping end portions of said strip exposed, and then pressing the overlapping end portions of said strip against said surface to produce a permanent joint therebetween.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the skived end of said strip is clamped to said surface by ,means of a solid member pressing against the abrasive coated side of said end portion, and the other end of said strip is clamped to said surface in edge overlapping relation with the skived end portion of said strip by applying suction to said other end to secure it to said surface.

13. The method of joining the ends of a strip coated with abrasive on one side thereof to form an abrasive belt, comprising skiving the abrasive material from one end portion of said strip to provide a relatively abrasive-free transverselyextending border area, moving the skived end of said strip across a flat horizontal surface with the abrasive coated side thereof uppermost until said border area abuts retractable stop members, clamping the skived end of said strip to said surface With said abrasive-free border area exposed, applying adhesive to said border area, also retracting said stop members below said surface, then moving the other end of said strip across said surface with the abrasive coated side upper.- most into edge overlapping relation with said border area and with said other end portion 10 uppermost, applying suction to the underside of said other end to secure it to said surface, applying heat to the overlappingv end portions of said strip while pressing them against said surface with sufiicient force to flatten the joint thus formed by reducing the thickness of the overlapping portions of said strips.

14. The method of joining the ends of a strip coated with abrasive on one side thereof, comprising skiving the abrasive material from one end portion of said strip to provide a relatively abrasive-free transversely-extending border area, moving the skived end of said strip across a surface with the abrasive-coated side away from said surface until said border area abuts retractable stop members, releasably securing the skived end of said strip to said surface with the abrasive-free border area exposed, applying adhesive to said border area, also retracting said stop members, then moving the other end of said strip across said surface with the abrasive-coated side away from said surface into edge overlapping relation with said border area and with said other end outermost, releasably securing said other end to said surface with the overlapping end portions of said strip exposed, and then pressing the overlapping end portions of said strip against said surface to produce a permanent joint therebetween.

15. In glue-joining and press apparatus, a bed, a frame providing a bridge there-above, a press mounted in said bridge for movement toward said bed, retractable stop means associated with said bed and adapted to align the forward edge portions of a strip advanced over said bed, holder means carried by the bridge frame and engageable with the strip to hold the same with the forward edge thereof aligned and exposed, a carriage extending laterally of the press and movable longitudinally thereof and beyond the press, a gluepot extending laterally of the carriage member below the press, and glue-applying means carried by said gluepot and engageable with the exposed edge of said strip for applying glue, said carriage comprising a roller-equipped plate engageable with a track structure on said frame, and a gluepot-supporting plate vertically movable with respect to said first-mentioned plate and engageable with means on said frame for raising said gluepot at one end of the travel of said carriage.

JAMES R. HAWKINS.

References Cited in the file of. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,730 Metzger Dec. 11, 1923 1,259,500 Evans Mar. 19, 1918 1,396,895 Stolz Nov. 15, 1921 1,821,413 Whitehouse Sept. 1, 1931 1,844,486 Tufts Feb. 9, 1932 2,391,731 Miller et al Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 169,354 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1921 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Plastics, Fabricating Endless Belts," June 1950, pp. 89, 92 and 94. 

